2012 alfa 159 3.2

[fgv]

thanks guys. the link is interesting - i think i'd have to have more of a chat with an alfa specialist before doing anything like that though.

kaleuclint - it looks stunning in black. funny that you have neighbours with the same car. im guessing you live in a suburb with people who have good taste in cars! =)

Colin Edwards - thanks for sharing the thoughts. what you describe sounds like pretty much what i want from a car!
by the way, would you consider the later year front-wheel-drive 3.2? or would it be too nose heavy?
the specs seem to indicate that the 1.75 is 1430kg, the 3.2 Q4 is 1610kg, and the 3.2 front wheel drive is 1540kg. (and later year 2.4 diesel is 1585kg).

[kaleuclint]

thanks guys. the link is interesting - i think i'd have to have more of a chat with an alfa specialist before doing anything like that though.

kaleuclint - it looks stunning in black. funny that you have neighbours with the same car. im guessing you live in a suburb with people who have good taste in cars! =)

Colin Edwards - thanks for sharing the thoughts. what you describe sounds like pretty much what i want from a car!
by the way, would you consider the later year front-wheel-drive 3.2? or would it be too nose heavy?
the specs seem to indicate that the 1.75 is 1430kg, the 3.2 Q4 is 1610kg, and the 3.2 front wheel drive is 1540kg. (and later year 2.4 diesel is 1585kg).

Actually I live Australia's Mercedes heartland.  There are more of them here than any other make and the only place in the country where that's the case.  And yes I've got one...

Alfas are statistically thin on the ground but the 159Ti 1750 dominates (I think...do diesels have dual exhausts?).

[alfamisa]

Alfas are statistically thin on the ground but the 159Ti 1750 dominates (I think...do diesels have dual exhausts?).

The 1750 petrol, 2.2 petrol, 3.2 petrol and 2.4 diesel all have twin exhaust pipes.

Only the 1.9 diesel is single exhaust.

You'll find the 2.2 dominates in numbers compared to much fewer 1750's that were imported right towards the tail of 159 life. Even fewer Breras. Sadly.

[fgv]

kaleuclint - that still qualifies as good taste! haha.

i'm interested to see what comes up in terms of people selling alfa 159s in the coming year.. it's already 5 years since the last imported batch.. and with the new alfa giulia coming out as well. i'm hoping to have more to choose from but it won't help that there wasn't too many sold to begin with!

[fgv]

did you guys see the news recently that the alfa giulia QV orders has been 'sold out'? (didn't say how many cars though).

i guess this leads back to whether it's current alfa owners who are getting this new alfa.. and whether this means there will be more of the recent year 159s on the market.

i've been monitoring carsales and other dealers for the past 6 months.. so far only one 2010 manual 3.2.. (which we didn't confirm whether it was a Q4 or not). a few automatics but even then not many.

it can't be that rare can it? or are people just not selling? the same way that some of our posters here have 156s from 15 years ago etc.. =)

[kaleuclint]

Good question...

They would be quite rare.  Then again the 1750 Ti was quite rare for years (maybe one on carsales if you were lucky) and now there are five or so at a time.

Some owners will upgrade to the Giulia.  Some sick of waiting have probably already gone elsewhere.  Some like me won't pay $70k for the Giulia and one day will realise we've become like those 156 holdouts!

[bazzbazz]

Some like me won't pay $70k for the Giulia and one day will realise we've become like those 156 holdouts!

Well I'm hoping they depreciate as fast as all other Alfa's have. A horrible thing to say I know, but it's the only way
I can afford to buy one at the moment.   

[poohbah]

we've become like those 156 holdouts

Oi, are you referring to me? I admit, I love my 156, and don't ever see myself getting rid of it. But I would like to get Giulia QV too - after a few years when the depreciation has worked its magic, of course! In other words, I'm with baz on this.

[fgv]

i wouldn't buy a new car myself, but $70k is quite reasonable for a car of that build / appearance isn't it? i would definitely think it would be a good idea to get it second hand.. but that could take a few years to see them being sold.. maybe around 2020 or so?

being a hold out for a car you really like sounds like a good idea. i just wonder whether for some people that might be getting a new alfa giulia and keeping it for a very long time..

[bazzbazz]

Well the first Brand New car I ever bought was a VR commodore, the first "World Class" Commodore, and at the time it was ground breaking (as for as commodores went). I kept it and drove it into the ground, got about 300,000kms out of it.

If I could afford a new Giulia I would care for it and keep it till IT became a classic . . . but that's just me.   

[kaleuclint]

2011 159Ti 1750TBi manual with 23,100 kms listed by Zags at $27990 -- sold within three days.

[fgv]

hi again guys,
would anyone be able to comment on the clearance over bumps for the 3.2 Q4?
i've been reading around - and it seems the 1.75 has an ?undertray which is prone to hitting bumps.. and you have to be careful with the 159s which are more 'nose heavy', with bumps in general (especially the diesel versions).
since the Q4 is better balanced and less nose heavy is this less of a factor? or does the drive train sit low and also prone to being hit by bumps?

another thing, what was the consensus for when to service the timing chain again for the 3.2? the timing belt replacement for 1.75 is 3 years / 40k km yes?
thanks

[Colin Edwards]

The clearance is very low - more so a Ti.  My undertray was replaced by dealer as part of the RWC prior to my purchase.  The undertray is very large - extends back to around the front of the doors.  Lowest point is the composite aluminum heat shield.  Replaced it twice now.  Undertray is held on by about 14 fasteners!!!

Only need to replace timing chain when warning light comes on.  Still safe to drive for for a bit.

[fgv]

that's very useful info Colin.. so its really a general thing for this car then. how much did the undertray replacement cost?
i remember reading somewhere that the difference between the standard (or lusso?) vs ti clearance was over 10mm - does that sound correct? i couldn't find the site i read that though..
regarding the chain - is that something you find assuring that it doesn't require changing as often, or would you consider it a non-factor in the overall complexity of maintenance for the car?

[Colin Edwards]

The Ti is "officially" 20mm lower than a "standard" 159.  This includes the slightly larger rolling dia of the 19" wheels / tyres.  I recently installed Koni "sport" dampers. These are gas pressurized dampers like the originals however I reckon the Koni's run a lower pressure as the car is 2-3mm lower again. 

Vendor supplied new under tray - I believe they are around $700!!

I consider the timing chain as I would any other major engine component like bearings, crank or camshafts.  These will all wear to various degrees.  The JTS engine or any Direct Injection engine of mid 2000's vintage can suffer accelerated chain wear if the oil and oil filter is not changed at regularly frequent intervals.  Direct injection engines in the past were known to contaminate and thicken oil.  The good thing about the JTS is it tells you when the chain wear is excessive.  So you drive the car, maintain it and forget about the chain until the warning arrives.  This warning should not however be ignored!!!

Liqui Moly, Penrite and Motul do good oil for the JTS.  I use the Motul.  It has all the Fiat approvals and has low volatility - a critical parameter for Direct Injection engines.